At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative tech strategies and shape the future of global supply chains.
- Company: Join CHEP, a leader in sustainable logistics with a global impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique contributions.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in sustainability while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Proven IT leadership experience and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact.
What does that mean for you? You’ll join an international organization big enough to take you anywhere, and small enough to get you there sooner. You’ll help change how goods get to market and contribute to global sustainability. You’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self to work and be surrounded by diverse and driven professionals. And you can maximize your work-life balance and flexibility through our Hybrid Work Model.
Key Responsibilities May Include:
- Lead the development of forward-looking platform strategies by integrating industry trends, emerging technologies, and business priorities into a coherent direction.
- Provide independent architectural oversight across end user, edge, cloud, and network platforms to ensure consistency, scalability, and resilience.
- Partner with digital, cyber, and operational teams to shape technology solutions early in the lifecycle, improving design quality and reducing downstream risk.
- Translate complex technical concepts into clear, commercially relevant narratives that support executive understanding and informed decision-making.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with vendors, partners, and industry networks to bring external innovation and insights into the organisation.
- Influence cross-platform alignment by ensuring initiatives are coherent, interoperable, and aligned to enterprise priorities.
- Produce high-quality strategic artefacts, including technology strategies, options analyses, and investment cases, to support leadership forums.
- Enable stronger risk awareness and mitigation by applying architectural judgement and challenge across technology and resilience initiatives.
The Technology Strategy & Innovation Lead is a senior leadership role within the Technology Platforms organisation, created to add critical technologist capacity, strategic depth, and architectural oversight to the leadership team. This role does not own platform delivery. Instead, it provides senior technical leadership, early-stage engagement, and strategic orchestration across Technology Platforms, Cyber, Digital, and Supply Chain—working earlier in the lifecycle to shape direction, influence design, and improve outcomes.
The role exists to ensure Technology Platforms has:
- A stronger seat at the enterprise table
- Earlier, higher-quality engagement in Digital and Supply Chain-led initiatives
- Clear, credible technology narratives communicated in the right language for executive and business audiences
- Strong awareness of industry trends, emerging technologies, and vendor innovation
- Senior architectural oversight across EUC, Edge, Cloud, and Network
- Architectural oversight of risks and mitigation from a technology platforms perspective
- Senior input into discussions relating to resilience engineering and business continuity planning
Role Specific Accountabilities:
- Strategic Technology Leadership
- Act as a senior technologist and strategic partner within the Technology Platforms Leadership Team, complementing platform owners by focusing on direction, coherence, and future-readiness.
- Provide enterprise-level architectural and technology oversight across End User, Edge, Cloud, and Network platforms (distinct from formal Enterprise Architecture).
- Bridge the gap between “what’s possible” and “what’s operationally sustainable”, ensuring ambition is grounded in operational reality.
- Early Engagement & Business Partnership
- Embed closely with Digital teams, engaging early in ideation, shaping, and solution design—working alongside senior Digital leaders.
- Partner deeply with Cyber and Supply Chain to align platform strategies with security, resilience, operational continuity, and business transformation priorities.
- Improve technology outcomes by influencing decisions earlier in the lifecycle, reducing downstream rework and risk.
- Innovation & Industry Awareness
- Maintain strong awareness of industry direction, emerging technologies, vendor roadmaps, and architectural patterns relevant to global platform organisations.
- Build and sustain senior relationships with strategic vendors, partners, and industry peers, including CTO-level engagement.
- Translate external innovation into practical, consumable insights that inform platform strategy and enterprise decision-making.
- Executive Communication & Influence
- Act as a trusted technology voice in executive and senior business forums—able to articulate complex technology topics in clear, outcome-focused commercial language.
- Produce high-quality executive artefacts (strategy packs, options papers, and decision decks), often at short notice, to support leadership discussions and investment decisions.
- Strengthen Technology Platforms’ credibility by consistently presenting well-structured, evidence-based, business-aligned narratives.
- Cross-Platform Coherence & Risk
- Provide independent, cross-platform perspective to ensure coherence, consistency, and alignment across EUC, Edge, Cloud, and Network initiatives.
- Support Cyber initiatives through senior technical challenge, architectural guidance, and risk-based thinking.
- Help platform owners focus on delivery excellence by holding the broader strategic and architectural context.
Key Relationships:
- Technology Platforms Leadership Team – peer contributor and strategic adviser
- Digital Leadership & Product Teams – early-stage design and shaping partner
- Cyber Leadership – technical oversight and alignment
- Supply Chain Technology & Operations – resilience, operability, and scalability alignment
- Strategic Vendors & Partners – innovation, roadmap influence, and insight generation
Experience:
- Essential:
- Significant previous experience in within a broad IT infrastructure leadership role.
- Significant experience managing or influencing technical staff and projects.
- Proven success in improving the customer experience.
- Experience working within a matrix structure in global organisations.
- Senior technologist with deep experience across modern enterprise platforms (EUC, Cloud, Network, Edge).
- Proven ability to operate credibly at senior executive and board-facing levels.
- Strong architectural thinking without reliance on formal EA constructs.
- Demonstrated experience influencing outcomes without direct line authority.
- Exceptional ability to translate technical complexity into business-relevant language.
- Comfortable operating at pace, including turning around executive-quality materials quickly.
- Desirable:
- Experience working closely with Digital / Product organisations in large enterprises.
- Exposure to global, asset-intensive or supply-chain-driven environments.
- Strong external network across vendors, partners, and industry forums.
Remote Type: Hybrid Remote
Skills to succeed in the role: Coaching, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Disruptive Thinking, Emerging Technologies, Emotional Intelligence, Enterprise Architecture (EA), Enterprise Technologies, Inclusive Leadership, Leading Change, Platform Strategy, Prioritization, Strategic Thinking, Technology Platforms, Technology Strategies, Technology Trends.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
Technology Platforms Strategy & Innovation Director in Addlestone employer: CHEP
CHEP is an excellent employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, empowering employees to excel in their roles while promoting collaboration across various departments. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, this hybrid remote position allows for flexibility and work-life balance, making it an ideal environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in demand planning across Europe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technology Platforms Strategy & Innovation Director in Addlestone
✨Get Involved in Tech Transfer Events
Tech transfer is all about networking, so make sure you're attending industry conferences and seminars related to technology commercialization. Events like the AUTM Annual Meeting or local innovation workshops are clutch for meeting key players and learning what's trending—plus, you might just bump into someone from CHEP!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Having a solid portfolio can really make you stand out. Highlight any projects where you successfully brought a technology to market or improved a process. Sharing case studies or insights on platforms like LinkedIn can catch the eye of recruiters at CHEP, showing them you’ve got the chops for the job.
✨Leverage University Connections
Many universities have strong tech transfer offices—connect with them! They often have ties to industry and can help you get your foot in the door. Plus, you might find openings or internship opportunities that lead to this full-time role at places like CHEP.
✨Engage with Online Communities
Join forums or online communities focused on tech transfer and commercialization. Platforms like ResearchGate or industry-specific Slack channels are great for connecting with professionals, discussing trends, and possibly learning about job openings before they hit the mainstream. Remember, your next opportunity could be just a message away!
We think you need these skills to ace Technology Platforms Strategy & Innovation Director in Addlestone
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Transfer Know-How:In the tech transfer and commercialization world, it's crucial to highlight your understanding of intellectual property, patents, and market analysis. Make sure your CV includes relevant projects or experiences where you successfully navigated these areas. Any certifications in commercialisation would also give you a serious edge!
Tailor Your Documents for the Role:Your cover letter should reflect not just your enthusiasm for the position at CHEP, but also your knowledge of current trends in technology-transfer. Discuss specific cases where you've contributed to commercialising innovations or enhancing research outcomes—this will show you’re ready to tackle challenges head-on!
Quantify Your Achievements:In this field, numbers count! Whether it's successful licensing deals, funding acquired for projects, or percentage increases in collaboration outcomes, include these metrics in your CV. They not only make your accomplishments more tangible but also demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
Demonstrate Your Business Acumen:Understanding the business side is just as crucial as the tech side! When writing your application, weave in examples that illustrate your strategic thinking and your role in negotiations or partnerships. This balance of skills is what will set you apart for a full-time role at CHEP.
How to prepare for a job interview at CHEP
✨Demonstrate Your Tech Knowledge
Brush up on key technologies and trends in technology transfer and commercialization. Be ready to showcase your understanding of licensing agreements and the innovation lifecycle, as well as any specific tools or software used in the field.
✨Show Your Business Acumen
This role isn't just about tech; it's also about understanding the market. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach bringing a technology to market, including strategies for assessing commercial viability and potential partnerships.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect case studies or hypothetical scenarios during the interview. Think about how you'd approach real-world challenges in technology transfer, like negotiating a deal or handling stakeholder concerns—this can help us get a sense of your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Be ready to share examples of how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past, particularly in scenarios that involved tech developers and business strategists coming together.
